March 16: Contentment and Forgiveness / Forgiving Others

CONTENTMENT SCRIPTURES

Phil. 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 

Prov. 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. 

Rom. 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 

Mark 7:20-23 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,  deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” 

Our Thought Life Determines Our Contentment

Beware of what you dwell on for that you shall surely become. (Ralph W. Emerson)

The mind is the window of the heart.  If we let our minds constantly dwell on the dark, the mind will feel dark. If we open the window of our mind to the light, the heart will feel the light.  (John Piper)

[excerpted from Contentment: A Matter of the Heart by Karen Horsey / Karen's Kreations]

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These spring days on the traditional church calendar (Feb. 17-April 3, 2010) are called the season of Lent--a time for reflection, prayer and repentance.  It is a time to ponder particularly on the sacrifice of the Lord for our sins.  It is often a time when people give up something for the 40 days preceding Easter.  Some people give up chocolate, wine, TV, video games...I saw someone last week say they were giving up Facebook for Lent.  Guess that's a sign of the times we live in.  :)

I would suggest a new thing to give up--bitterness and grudges that you hold against someone else.  What better time to give the gift of forgiveness than during the season preceding Resurrection Sunday?  The verses and quotes above may help in beginning this process.  Sometimes forgiveness can be granted all at once; other times it may take awhile to truly forgive someone.  The other person need not ask for forgiveness in order for you to forgive them.  In some cases the person may be deceased or have no contact information for you to speak to them.  

Forgiving another is a double-sided gift.  It not only releases the other person but it also frees you from carrying the burden and the darkness that always accompanies bitterness and anger.  Don't put it off another day.  Lift the weight from  your shoulders as well as that from another.  This Easter celebrate the Resurrection with peace and reconcilement in your heart.


Helpful book on this topic: Breaking Free by Beth Moore